Milei revives Interior Ministry in nod to governors, appoints Lisandro Catalán

President Javier Milei’s government has announced the return of the Interior Ministry of the Interior and appointed Lisandro Catalán to lead the portfolio.

The decision, taken Wednesday in response to last weekend’s election defeat in Buenos Aires Province, was confirmed by Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos in a post on social media that tagged the new minister. There was no formal announcement.

The Milei administration also confirmed the formation of a new Mesa Federal, which aims to coordinate dialogue with provincial governors – one of several changes implemented in a bid to control an escalating political and economic crisis.

Catalán attended a meeting at the Casa Rosada with Milei, Francos and Economy Minister Luis ‘Toto’ Caputo, who will all sit on the new roundtable.

The newly re-established Interior Ministry, which was downgraded by Milei in June 2024, should be a comfortable role for Catalán, who was serving as deputy Cabinet chief for the Interior in Franco' s office.

"Following the President's instructions and with the aim of resuming dialogue with aligned governors, we have established the Mesa Federal alongside the Economy Minister Luis Caputo and newly appointed Interior Minister Lisandro Catalán," Francos posted on X.

"In this new phase, where we believe it is essential to implement the structural reforms we have been working on, we are ready to strengthen ties with provinces that share the spirit of change," Francos added.

The appointment is the latest in a series of steps from the Milei government, which is reeling from Sunday’s defeat to the Peronists in the legislative elections in Buenos Aires Province.

Several new political coordination bodies have been created. Milei has vowed to learn the lessons of the loss, while reiterating his desire to push ahead with his economic programme. 

The Interior Ministry portfolio was eliminated in June 2024, when Francos – then Interior minister – became Cabinet chief, replacing the departing Nicolás Posse.

At that point, the role was downgraded to a deputy Cabinet chief position, which Catalán then assumed under Francos’ orbit. 

The outlook has since shifted and the government now views the Interior Ministry as a vital tool to rebuild its strained relationship with provincial governors.

– TIMES/NA/PERFIL